Our North Lanarkshire Schools Pipe Band is celebrating a strong start to the piping season with a series of impressive competition results and performances.
The band started the year strongly, finishing as runners-up at the prestigious George Watson's Invitational Pipe Band Competition in Edinburgh on 1 March.
One week later, they achieved another excellent second place at the Scottish Schools Championship, which saw a record 172 schools from across Scotland taking part.
The outdoor season has continued this success, with the Novice A band winning at Gourock Highland Games on 10 May against both school and adult bands in Grade 4A. The Novice B band also performed well, finishing third in its category.
At Dollar Academy on 23 May, the Novice A band secured another victory and the Novice B band once again achieved third place.
And at the British Pipe Band Championship at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh, the first major competition of the season, the Novice A band placed fourth out of 12 bands. The Novice B band achieved a very respectable sixth place in a large field of 18 school bands, despite having the challenging first performance slot of the day.
Ross Cowan, pipe major, said: “We would like to thank our primary and secondary schools across the region for their continued support of our instrumental music pupils, and to the council for providing these opportunities which allow our young people to achieve such incredible performances.”
Councillor Michael McBride, Convener of Education, said: “Our schools pipe band reflects the very best of North Lanarkshire and we wish them all the very best of luck for the rest of the season.”
Away from competition, the band has proudly represented North Lanarkshire at a range of community events, including Lanimer Day in Lanark, Strathaven Gala Day, St Andrew’s Hospice’s 40th anniversary celebrations and the Head Teachers’ Conference at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility.
The band’s talented young pipers and drummers will also be performing at Primary 7 leavers’ ceremonies across the region.
Looking ahead, the band is preparing for the European Pipe Band Championship in Perth on 27 June, the Scottish Championship in Dumbarton on 25 July, and the World Pipe Band Championship at Glasgow Green on 14 August.